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mcrome04's review against another edition
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
stephintoadventure's review against another edition
challenging
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Drug use, and Murder
emitheslowreader's review against another edition
dark
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
2.25
the_sunken_library's review against another edition
4.0
My first foray into Korean crime and I am in love. I find the writing to be a lot funnier and personable than Japanese crime (that may be due to translation or style I am unsure) - certainly more my style.
I love the protagonist and the depiction of modern Korean Gangsters, their assassins and the plotters who lurk in the shadows weaving intricate webs of deceit and murder. Its truly delicious. Each character is so flippant about their lives, the world they live in and the targets that they are paid to dispose of. More love and compassion is shown by Keeseng to his cats than to his marks or even himself.
The Meatmarket and The Doghouse are populated by lunatics which makes this novel such fun to read - I mean there is a whole conversation about blowing someone's arse off. I would have thought I might be horrified by the subject matter but the attitude of the characters is so blasé that you can't help being that way yourself as the reader.
My only quibble was that the end felt very abrupt - a bit like the ending of Filth - I wanted more but it did fit. Seriously, this author needs to get busy writing their next book!
I love the protagonist and the depiction of modern Korean Gangsters, their assassins and the plotters who lurk in the shadows weaving intricate webs of deceit and murder. Its truly delicious. Each character is so flippant about their lives, the world they live in and the targets that they are paid to dispose of. More love and compassion is shown by Keeseng to his cats than to his marks or even himself.
The Meatmarket and The Doghouse are populated by lunatics which makes this novel such fun to read - I mean there is a whole conversation about blowing someone's arse off. I would have thought I might be horrified by the subject matter but the attitude of the characters is so blasé that you can't help being that way yourself as the reader.
My only quibble was that the end felt very abrupt - a bit like the ending of Filth - I wanted more but it did fit. Seriously, this author needs to get busy writing their next book!
alina_is_reading's review against another edition
challenging
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
literarykerry's review against another edition
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
3.5
thefantasticalworldofsara's review against another edition
4.0
I picked this up on a whim at work because it has assassins and that sounded interesting to me (and also a long departure from Dune, the book I'm also currently reading, which oof I like but is very slow) and I'm glad I ended up picking it up!
This is only a kind of serious assassin book and by that I mean it isn't focused on the dark and gritty aspects of the job. As a result there were parts that genuinely made me laugh out loud. I mean the fact that the top assassin provider runs his business in a building owned by a life insurance company is freaking genius and also hilarious.
I think my favourite bit that the story explored was the idea of the empty chair. Essentially, if you eliminate the person at the top of a system will it solve the problem/dismantle the system or is it just an empty chair that someone else will fill? I find it fascinating and I keep thinking about it!
Overall, if you want something about assassins that makes you think and also sometimes makes you laugh this is the book for you!
ps. The views expressed in this review are my own and do not reflect the views of Indigo Book & Music Inc. or any of its subsidiaries. #IndigoEmployee
This is only a kind of serious assassin book and by that I mean it isn't focused on the dark and gritty aspects of the job. As a result there were parts that genuinely made me laugh out loud. I mean the fact that the top assassin provider runs his business in a building owned by a life insurance company is freaking genius and also hilarious.
I think my favourite bit that the story explored was the idea of the empty chair. Essentially, if you eliminate the person at the top of a system will it solve the problem/dismantle the system or is it just an empty chair that someone else will fill? I find it fascinating and I keep thinking about it!
Overall, if you want something about assassins that makes you think and also sometimes makes you laugh this is the book for you!
ps. The views expressed in this review are my own and do not reflect the views of Indigo Book & Music Inc. or any of its subsidiaries. #IndigoEmployee
koirankarva's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5